How SSE initiatives contribute to achieving the SDGs in Covid times

Ripess around the world

By Judith Hitchman, Ripess Intercontinental board

RIPESS participated in the RIO+20 meeting in 2012 when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) process was launched. From 2012 to 2015, we advocated for the inclusion of Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) in the SDGs by showing how SSE can provide an inclusive way forward towards their implementation. The SDGs themselves, adopted in September 2015, are not based on SSE; far from it. In many cases, the wording of the sub-paragraphs merely reflects a “greening” of the current neoliberal paradigm. Be this as it may, they can be considered as an opportunity for systemic change. The current multiple crises (health, economic, financial, environmental, climate, housing…) are all interrelated, as are the SDGs. And the multiple examples of the excellent work done by SSE entities around the world to address them need far greater recognition. These examples now need to be elevated and SSE policy mainstreamed at all levels.

Read more

Enacting Resilience: the Response of LSPA to the Covid-19 Crisis

Local Solidarity-based Partnerships for Agroecology

By Judith Hitchman, URGENCI international network

Enacting Resilience”: the report on the response of Local Solidarity-based Partnerships for Agroecology (LSPA) to the Covid-19 Crisis has been released about a year ago, right in the middle of the pandemic. The team of grassroots actors, practitioners and researchers gathered by URGENCI wanted to gain a detailed understanding of how solidarity-based short supply chains and territorial food distribution systems support people’s access to food during this crisis throughout the world. It is important to understand and share the role these initiatives and schemes play in challenging times.

The practitioners of LSPA, producers and consumers alike, have been enacting their own vision of resilience: they have been emphasizing the importance of social connections in their everyday commitments, rather than relying solely on technological solutions like “click and collect”. This is demonstrated by the observation of an increased level of commitment of members, through farm visits, help given during distribution and work on the farm. The partnerships have been strengthened in the Covid-19 period.

Read more